The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-07
OR THE CLARION
The New School Law.

Among other things that will come up
for the consideration of our next Legis-
lature, the new school law will no doubt
have its full quota of discussion. Is it
vulnerable, and should it be attacked
and materially changed? We hear of
complaints, but it does not ALWAYS ap
pear that these complaints are Justly
attributable to defects in the new school
law. 1t no doubt has its defects, but
they are not sufficient to account for all
the cases of chronic grumbling we hear
OF throughout the country. 1t seems to
be nature, not second nature, but first,
last and all-the time nature of some
patrons to grumble. Give them school
in winter and they complain that the
weather is too cold; give it in summer,
then 1T is too warm; give it in spring or
autumn and then they are too busy.
Give them school the year around, and
they will not send any as they can't send
all the time. Give them four or five
months, and they will not send any as
the time is too short to do any good.
And so they do nothing except contri-
butte a large and emulous share of
grumbling and fault-fnding. Yet these
are the voters, and of course the men,
bers of the Legislature must listen to
the voice of their constituents. 1t
might be wise, then, to consider what
changes we can afford to make. The
majority of the people, of course, must
be consulted and pleased. There is very
great Indifference as TO Public Schools
on the part of great many patrons.
This indifference shows itself on the
poor houses that are provided, and the
reluctance with which they procure the
necessary books for their children. OF
course the children of such patrons
make but poor progress, and hence a
general dissatisfaction in regard to the
Free School system.
1t was hoped by the Teachers Asso-
citation at Starkville, last month, that
Prof. J. NJ. Carter, of Pontotoc, would
publish his very able essay on "The
School Law of Mississippi He sent
out circular letters to all the Superin-
tendents and received about forty re-
sponses. | shall introduce here some of
the facts he gathered FROM the forty
letters as
CARTER s CONRENsED STATEMENT.
AS to Districts-Satisfactory, "a; not
satisfactory, II.
As to Institutes SO; not
successful, 4.
As to Examinations "a;
not beneficial, /.
AS to Salaries-Satisfacto 81; not
satisfactory, z.
As to Continuous Session-Satisfac-
tory, 27; not satisfactory, 7.
As to Summer Terms-Desirable, "a;
not desirable, s.
As to Visitstions by Superintendent
al Al
As to Census--Correct, 8; not correct,
26.
AS to Cost of Schools--Same as under
old law, 4; less than under old law, 25;
more than under old law, 2.
He suggests the following changes in
| the new law: Per diem salary; pay school
heard empower board to divide term !;
| limit school age from to II, conGne
pupils 10 their own districts; make
license good in any county; uniformity
OF text books; all should be examined
as for lst grade; superintendent : salar
should be fixed by law; some other time
than Saturday for examination; amend
sections 90, "a, %; repeal 35.
| The Facts and figures certainly show
that the new law is decided improve
ment upon the old. The changes sug-
gested were generally looked upon with
favor, except perhaps the division OF the
term. When it IS only four months it is
si3,ered a farce by most teachers
to divide it.
| The other changes would be mere ad-
lustments and perfectiopa in the general
/ system, suggested by a two years trial.
1t surely would be unwise to make any
radical changes just now, while the new
law is going through sort Of expert
ment. Let it have a fair chance and see
if there is not yet greater virtue in it
than we have yet discovered.
JOHN w. JOHNSON.